School Laws of Oklahoma

Chapter 2 - Administration
Article VII: Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics

Section 591.1. Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics - Establishment - Board of Trustees - Terms - Vacancies - Budget Request. (70 O.S. § 1210.401)

A. A secondary school to be known as the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics is hereby established to be governed by a board of trustees as created in this section.

B. The Board of Trustees of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics shall consist of twenty-five (25) members as follows:

1. Six ex officio nonvoting members as follows:

a. The Chair of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education or a designee;

b. The Chancellor for Higher Education or a designee;

c. The Superintendent of Public Instruction or a designee;

d. The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of Oklahoma State University;

e. The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Oklahoma; and

f. The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Tulsa.

2. Seven members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate as follows:

a. A member of the Senate;

b. A superintendent of a public school district; and

c. Five persons, two of whom are either a scientist or a mathematician and three of whom hold a graduate degree and practice a profession for which a graduate degree is required.

3. Seven members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as follows:

a. A member of the House of Representatives;

b. A principal of a public secondary school; and

c. Five members who are either a scientist or a mathematician or hold a graduate degree and are currently employed in an occupation related to mathematics or one of the sciences.

4. Five members appointed by the Governor. Four of the members appointed by the Governor shall be business or industrial leaders. One member appointed by the Governor shall be a principal of a private secondary school in this state. One of the members shall be designated as Chair of the Board of Trustees by the Governor.

For purposes of this subsection:

a. “scientist” means any person who has a college degree in one of the sciences or is currently employed in an occupation related to one of the sciences; and

b. “mathematician” means any person who has a college degree in mathematics or is currently employed in an occupation related to mathematics.

1. The terms of office of the members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall coincide with the terms of the appointing authority.

2. The terms of office of the initial members appointed by the Governor shall be as follows:

a. Two members shall serve for a term of office of two (2) years;

b. Two members shall serve for a term of office of four (4) years; and

c. One member shall serve for a term of office of six (6) years.

At the expiration of the terms of office of the initial members appointed by the Governor, their successors shall be appointed for terms of office of six (6) years.

D. Vacancies in the office of an appointed member shall be filled for the unexpired term by the appointing authority making the original appointment. Except as prohibited by the Oklahoma Constitution, appointment to the board of Trustees shall not preclude any member from holding any other private or public position.

E. The Board of Trustees shall prepare a budget request for the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics and shall submit the budget request to the Legislature and the Governor by October 1 of each year. The Board of Trustees may accept gifts of real and personal property, money and other things, and use or dispose of the same in accordance with the directions of the donors or grantors thereof.

F. The Board of Trustees shall be authorized to purchase, own and acquire by lease or gift such motor vehicles as are reasonably necessary for the implementation of the programs of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics.

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Section 591.2. Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics Revolving Fund. (70 O.S. § 1210.402)

There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, to be designated the “Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics Revolving Fund”. The Fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by the Board of Trustees of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, from all sources. All monies accruing to the credit of said fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Board of Trustees of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics for the purpose of developing the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics. Expenditures from said fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of State Finance for approval and payment.

Section 591.3. Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics - Rules and Regulations - Preferential Hiring Policy. (70 O.S. § 1210.403)

A. The Board of Trustees of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to comply with the provisions of Section 1210.401 and 1210.402 of this title and any other requirements placed upon the Board of Trustees by law.

B. It is the intent of the Oklahoma Legislature that the Board of Trustees of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics establish a hiring policy for the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics which provides that applicants for employment positions with the School who are residents of the State of Oklahoma shall be given priority for employment over applicants who are not residents of this state if all other qualifications are equal.

Section 591.4. Development of Pilot Projects. (70 O.S. § 1210.404)

A. The Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics shall solicit proposals and award grants for pilot projects that develop and establish model programs implementing advanced science and math curriculum at local technology center school sites, local colleges or universities, or at local school sites via distance learning. At least two grants shall be awarded during the 1997-98 school year for implementation beginning the fall of 1997. The Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics shall determine pilot project criteria. The pilot project proposals shall be considered on a statewide competitive basis.

B. A Selection Committee shall be established to assist the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics in selecting sites for model programs. The Selection Committee shall consist of the following members:

1. The Director of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education or a designee;

2. The Superintendent of Public Instruction or a designee; and

3. The Director of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics or a designee.

C. An Advisory Council shall be established to assist the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics in development of the model programs. The Advisory Council shall establish eligibility criteria for student participation in the program. The Advisory Council shall have final approval of the curriculum and shall set academic standards for the program. The Advisory Council shall consist of the following members:

1. A superintendent of a participating local school district within the technology center school district elected by the majority of the participating superintendents or a designee;

2. The superintendent of a technology center school district participating in the program or a designee; and

3. The Director of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics or a designee.

D. The Advisory Council and participating area technology center schools shall work with the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics in determining advanced science and math curriculum needs for the area served by the program. A representative from the Advisory Council and participating technology center school or participating local school site shall work with a representative from the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics in the recruitment and hiring of faculty for the program. Faculty positions shall be approved by a majority vote of the representatives from the Advisory Council, technology center school and the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics.

E. The participating technology center school district shall provide transportation for those students attending the program at the technology center school site. Local schools at their option may provide transportation for students attending at college or university sites.